Conscious Aging and Consciousness-Raising

It's important to talk and share with others in the same boat when you feel confused, lost, or under attack. Consciousness-raising groups, and IONS Conscious Aging workshops, are two different, effective ways to end the isolation that so often accompanies aging, and to empower us to live the last third of our lives with beauty, grace, dignity, and purpose.

The IONS Conscious Aging workshop has been developed by therapists and researchers over a period of years with the intention of helping people in the last third of life embrace this time as a unique opportunity for personal growth and contribution to the culture. Death, dying, and loss are inevitable as we age, but depression and withdrawal should not be.

​I am a Certified IONS Conscious Aging facilitator, and would be delighted if we could work together to offer this eight-part workshop series for a group of 8 to 25 people.

The series of eight two-hour sessions involves participants in activities designed to shift their consciousness from self-limitation, lack, isolation and fear toward expansiveness, inclusiveness, wholeness, connection, and compassion. The program offers meaning-making through conversations and activities on topics such as life review and reframing, practicing forgiveness and self-compassion, releasing what’s no longer needed, and shaping one’s legacy to the world.

My own experience as a participant and facilitator of the IONS Conscious Aging workshop has transformed my view of this portion of my life. I am deeply grateful that the program exists, and love sharing with others the enormous growth it inspires.

For me, an essential aspect of the IONS Conscious Aging workshop is that it’s based on a rigorous, ongoing research process. Participants in my workshops will be able to help IONS further refine the program by completing brief pre- and post-workshop surveys. By doing so, we pass on the love and learning to the people coming after us. To learn more about the research behind the program, read this message from Kerstin Sjoquist, Director of Experience at the Institute of Noetic Sciences; this brochure is also informative.

Consciousness Raising

con·scious·ness-rais·ing​/ˈkänSHəsnəsˌrāziNG/noun

the activity of seeking to make people more aware of personal, social, or political issues. "a consciousness-raising group"

Groups of women in the 1960s and 1970s who engaged in consciousness raising about the impact of sexism changed their own lives and the U.S. forever. Maybe we can do the same with consciousness raising around aging. Unlike the IONS Conscious Aging workshop, consciousness raising groups are free, continue for an indefinite period of time (determined by participants), and are typically led by members in rotation.

Want to start a "CR" group around age-ism? Contact me and let's make it happen.

​Helping America become more informed, engaged, and conscious about aging.